Ground vase



J. W. VANDERVEER Marh 17, 1942.

GROUND VASE 2 sheets-sheet;

Filed April 17, 1939 INVENTOR. Jeu/e?! H( /onderyeer Ma/f ATTORNEY j March 17, 1942. 1 w; VANDERVEER 2,276,749

GROUND `VASE Filed April. 17, 1939 2 Sheecs-Sheet 2 Jen/eff 744 V0 wderreer. BY TM ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to ground vases for oral memorials in cemeteries and similar environs, and more specifically to improvements in the design and structure of such vases and the retainers therefor.

One of the objects f the invention resides in the construction of a vase retainer which is formed to support the vase with a portion thereof above the ground level when the vase is in use and to support the vase in an inverted position with the bottom thereof flush with the top of the retainer when the vase is not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collar or ange for the retainer which is constructed for the retention of a plurality of plates or blocks formed with alphabetical characters thereon adapted to be arranged to form a legend identication marker.

Another objectof the invention resides in certain improvements in the letter blocks and the supporting frame therefor over the structure of the marker disclosed in my Patent No. 2,154,966, dated April 18, 1939.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an anchor plate for the retainer within a concrete footing constructed therefor, the plate being constructed to facilitate the assembly of the retainer after the footing is cast, but adapted to prevent the removal thereof after it is locked thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ground vase assembly which is economic of production, durable of construction and designed so that the component parts thereof may be inter` changed in use.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary of the foregoing and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appear in the following description which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferredA embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the ground vase, the retainer and marker associated therewith and the concrete footing or foundatio-n therefor;

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view of the marker plate and retainer but illustrating the vase in elevation and adjusted in the position in which it is supported when not in use;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the vase, marker and retainer assembly shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the marker retainer and vase, the section being taken o-n the plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan View of a fragmentary view of a portion of the marker and vase;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the marker and retainer assembly;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the base of 'the retainer illustrating a modied form thereof and the anchor plate employedfo-r the retention of the retainer within the foundation; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the lower portion of the retainer shown in Fig. 7, a section being taken on a plane indicated by the line 8--8 in Fig. 7.

Referring first ,to Fig. l, the vase l0 is con structed with a cylindrical portion I I formed with a reduced section adjacent the lower end thereof which merges with an annular flange constituting the base I2. The neck of the vase converges from a circumference which forms a shoulder I3, the mouth I4 of the neck being preferably ared outwardly but of a lesser diameter than that of the cylindrical portion II.

The vase I0 is supported in a retainer I5, the upper portion I 6 thereof being of a suitable diameter to accommodate the re-entrant engagement of the cylindrical portion I I of the vase and flange I2. The lower portion I'I of the retainer is formed with a reduced diameter, the junction or step between the upper and lower portions thereof forming a shoulder I8. The retainer is preferab-ly set in a concrete foundation I 9 extended below the frost line and formed adjacent the ground level with a laterally extended apron 20 for the support and the identification plate or marker frame 2|. The upper end of the retainer I5 is provided with an annular flange 22 having a stepped bearing seat 23 therein and a plurality of lugs 24 disposed in spaced relation to the bearing seat 23 and extended outwardly from the periphery of the container with the outer ends thereof substantially concentric with the diameter of the bearing seat.

The marker frame 2| comprises a ring, the central opening therein being slightly larger than the diameter of the upper portion I6 of the retainer. The wall of the ring dening the opening is formed with notches 25 slightly larger than the lugs 24 and spaced circumferentially in relation of which constitutes, in conjunction with the ange 22, a support for the letter blocks 28 adapted for assembly therein.

The face of the ring 2| below the flange 21 is formed with an annular recess 29 slightly deeper than the body of the raised characters 30 on the letter blocks 28. With such construction certain of the letter blocks may be turned upside down Within the groove to provide spacers or blanks for separating the words, dates or other indicia of the marker legend as illustrated in Figs. and 6.

Referring now to Figs. '7 and 8, the retainer I5 is provided with an opening 40 in the base thereof which is formed with a plurality of notches 4| therein spaced for registration with laterally disposed lugs 42 in a boss 43 provided in the anchor plate 44. The anchor plate is of a greater diameter than the opening in the base of the foundation, the peripheral edge thereof being embedded in the side walls of the foundation during the construction thereof. The retainer is attached to the anchor plate 44 by inserting the lugs 42 through the notches 4|, then twisting the retainer until the lugs 42 engage the edge of the opening 4l) intermediate the notches 4| as illustrated in Fig. 8.

When the vase is not in use it may be stored Within the retainer I5 by inverting the Vase and inserting it in the retainer where the shoulder |3 of the vase will engage the shoulder I8 and support the vase ush with the marker frame 2| and with the mouth thereof in spaced relation with the base of the retainer. The base ange |2 is formed with opposed notches 3| which are provided to facilitate removal of the vase from the retainer when it is stored in its inverted position in the retainer. When it is desired to use the vase as a flower holder it may be lifted from the retainer |5, inverted and reinserted in the retainer I5, the flange |2 of the base then engaging the shoulder I8 of the retainer and to support the vase with the upper portion thereof above the ground level, as shown in Fig. 1.

The embodiment illustrated herein is shown as formed from casting. It is obvious, however, that the design may be executed in whole or in part from materials of a different character and that such treatment is contemplated as falling within the spirit of the present invention and scope of the accompanying claims.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or conning, and that various rearrangements of parts and modiiications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

l. In a ground vase embodying a cylindrical tubular retainer having an internal shoulder intermediate its ends, a plate in the ground subjacent said retainer and means in said plate coordinated With the base of the retainer for the detachable anchorage thereof.

2. A retainer for a ground vase comprising a tubular body having a mouth portion of greater diameter than the base portion, the base portion of said retainer having an opening therein, and with spaced notches in the edges of the Wall dening said opening, an anchor plate of greater diameter than the base of the retainer, a boss thereon formed for reentrant engagement within said opening in the retainer and lugs on said boss formed for reentrant engagement with the notches in said opening and engageable with the upper face of the edge of the wall defining the opening when the retainer is rotated about the axis of the boss.

JEWELL W. VANDERVEER. 

